John Shea D.D.S.

Shea Family Dentistry

If you need gum disease treatment, Moreno Valley area gum disease dentist, Dr. Shea offers extensive experience. Unhealthy gums can be a risk factor for more serious health problems if not treated promptly.

Our professional team will assess your situation and create a personalized treatment plan. We're committed to your life-long healthy gums and teeth.

If you're looking for dentures that look great and last, look no further than Shea Family Dentistry located in the Moreno Valley, CA area. John Shea, D.D.S. will assess your needs and fit you with durable, comfortable, natural-looking dentures - at a price you can afford.

For natural-looking prosthodontics, Moreno Valley area dentures dentist John Shea, D.D.S. has extensive experience. Our team uses quality materials and current techniques to deliver the results you want.

We'll assess your situation and design a treatment plan to replace your missing teeth. You'll be able to smile again with confidence and ease.

Our friendly and highly-trained team will assess your needs and design an individual treatment plan. We're here to help you maintain healthy gums and teeth for life.

At Shea Family Dentistry, serving the Moreno Valley, CA area, Dr. John Shea offers Electronic Dental Anesthesia (EDA) to help greatly reduce the sensation of an injection. The EDA is a battery-operated device that sends mild electrical impulses through a finger pad that Dr. Shea holds against the tissue surrounding your tooth. This produces a pulsating, tingling sensation which effectively masks the discomfort of an injection.

Request an Appointment With Shea Family Dentistry

The Institute Of DentistryAppointments: (951) 297-3732

Orest Frangopol D.D.S.

The Institute Of Dentistry

Dr. Orest Frangopol at his Riverside dentistry practice is pleased to offer you a free smile analysis if you are 18 years old or older. Our friendly and professional team will make you feel comfortable and welcome.

We'll answer your questions and assess your dental needs to achieve long term oral health. Our goal is to make your visit enjoyable, and to give you the smile you deserve.

Dr. Orest Frangopol, practicing in the Riverside, CA area, can provide you with the highest quality dental crowns available, and restore your smile. Using state-of-the-art materials and cutting-edge techniques, Dr. Frangopol can make your smile look healthy and natural again.

The Institute Of Dentistry is a trusted Riverside area dental implants practice providing natural-looking, comfortable tooth replacement. We make it our mission to use a gentle touch during the process.

We hold ourselves to the highest standards to replace missing teeth and provide you with natural-looking results. Our goal is to restore your confidence and your bright, healthy smile.

Orest Frangopol, D.D.S. performs cosmetic dentistry for wealthy adults. Unlike plastic surgery, cosmetic dentistry isn't a major operation. However, the results can be just as dramatic. Come visit Dr. Frangopol at The Institute Of Dentistry in the Riverside, CA area, and see how he can perfect your smile.

Orest Frangopol, D.D.S. is proud to be a popular Riverside area Lumineers® dentist. If you have sensitive teeth and want pain-free dental veneers, we can help.

Our highly trained team has extensive experience with this quick and easy procedure. We'll help you transform from feeling self-conscious to feeling confident about your bright new smile.

Request an Appointment With The Institute Of Dentistry

Michael A Hunting DDSAppointments: (951) 653-6094

Michael Hunting D.D.S.

Michael A Hunting DDS

If you're interested in natural-looking false teeth, Riverside area dentures dentist Michael Hunting, D.D.S. has solutions. Our team uses modern materials and techniques to achieve the natural results you envision.

Riverside area cosmetic dentistry at Michael A Hunting DDS can produce amazingly natural-looking results! You can have a bright, healthy new smile after just one or two sessions with Michael Hunting, D.D.S.. It's faster and more affordable than you may think.

For safe and professional teeth removal in the Riverside area, Dr. Michael Hunting can help. If you need to have one tooth or several teeth extracted, you can trust our highly skilled team.

We're committed to your comfort and long-term oral health. We'll give you the gentle, professional care you deserve.

For natural-looking prosthodontics, Riverside area dentures dentist Michael Hunting, D.D.S. has extensive experience. Our team uses quality materials and current techniques to deliver the results you want.

We'll assess your situation and design a treatment plan to replace your missing teeth. You'll be able to smile again with confidence and ease.

If you're interested in natural-looking bridges and dentures, look no further than Michael Hunting, D.D.S. who practices in the Riverside, California area. Using modern materials and techniques, Dr. Hunting can achieve the natural look you seek. You will be very pleased with the comfortable, long-lasting results.

What Occurs In Your Mouth During A Dental Care Examination

During a dentistry examination, the dentist examines the mouth mucosa (soft tissues) for any abnormalities or pathology (including oral cancer), the teeth for tooth decay (dental caries) or defects, the gum tissues for periodontal (gum) disease, the neck for swollen lymph nodes, the amount of plaque, tartar (dental calculus), and debris on teeth, as well as the need to replace any missing teeth or dental prostheses.

The dental examination begins with a complete dental care and medical history, including medications the patient currently is taking. The skin of the face and neck is examined for any abnormalities, especially pigment changes. The lymph nodes in front and behind the ears, under the floor of the mouth and chin, and the midline of the neck, sides, and back of the neck are palpated to determine if any swelling or tenderness is present.

Inside of the mouth, the lips, cheeks, gums, and roof of the mouth are inspected and palpated. During this process, the tip of the tongue is placed on the roof of the mouth just behind the upper teeth for inspection of the front floor of the mouth and sides of the tongue.

The back floor of the mouth, the area behind the lower wisdom teeth, and the back sides of the tongue are inspected by grasping the tip of the tongue with a small gauze sponge and pulling the tongue forward and toward the opposite side of the mouth.

To inspect the back of the throat, soft palate, and tonsil area (sides of the throat), the tongue is depressed with a dental mirror or tongue blade and then a deep breath is taken by the patient.

To detect swelling on the floor of the mouth, the area inside the mouth is felt with the finger of one hand while a finger of the other hand feels below the chin. Salivary gland enlargement, saliva flow, or xerostomia (dry mouth) are determined by milking the major salivary glands to assess the quantity and consistency of saliva.

Today's dentist has many analytic tools available to pinpoint dental and oral diseases. The basic tools are the dental instruments, lights, and radiographs (X-rays). Depending upon the dentist and the individual's dental needs, additional diagnostic tests are available. Testing for essential proteins and buffering capacity can evaluate the protective ability of saliva.

To determine mouth caries risks, microbiological testing of saliva can measure the level of caries-producing organisms. Periodontal susceptibility tests, which test for the DNA of gum disease-producing organisms, can be performed to assess an individual's risk for gum disease.

If removable dentures are present, they are checked for bite, retention, stability, and overall fit. Dental impressions or models also may be taken to study the mouth and tooth structures to initiate fabrication of prostheses. Photographs may be exposed for a variety of reasons, including before and after treatment comparisons.

The level of oral hygiene and home care practices are assessed and reviewed. Recommendations for home care devices and products may be made. Instruction and methods for maintaining a good oral hygiene regimen can also take place.

Once basic information about oral health status is gathered, the dentist will be better able to discuss dental treatment alternatives that are available.

By Denise J. Fedele, DMD, MS

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.

Find a Dentist To Evaluate Your Risk Factors For Oral Cancer

Oral and oropharyngeal cancers are malignancies that include the lips, tongue, lining of the cheeks (buccal mucosa), floor of the mouth, gum (gingiva), the area behind the lower wisdom teeth (retromolar trigone), the roof of the mouth (hard and soft palates), the back of mouth and throat (oropharynx), and the sides of the throat (tonsil areas).

Oral and oropharyngeal cancers are most often diagnosed in older adults (average age at diagnosis is between 60 and 63), with over 95% of the oral cancer cases occurring after the age of 45. Men are diagnosed with oral and oropharyngeal cancer twice as often as women. Over the past several decades, the overall number of oral and oropharyngeal cancers has not changed; however, the number of men being diagnosed with the disease is decreasing and the number of women with the disease is increasing.

All forms of tobacco and excessive use of alcohol have been identified as major risks factors for oral and oropharyngeal cancers, and are suspected to account for 75% of all oral and oropharyngeal cancers in the United States. Sun exposure is a risk factor for lip cancer, while smokeless (snuff or spit) tobacco increases the risk for cancers inside the lips and cheek. Other risk factors for oral and oropharyngeal cancer are vitamin A deficiency and Plummer-Vinson Syndrome (a very rare iron deficiency).

The American Cancer Society estimates that 7,800 people will die because of oral or oropharyngeal cancer in the year 2000. Overall, people surviving five years after a diagnosis of oral and oropharyngeal cancer have shown little improvement; half of the people diagnosed with this disease survive five years. Deaths due to oral and oropharyngeal cancer vary greatly with the stage (spread) of the cancer at diagnosis. Oral and oropharyngeal cancers that are detected and treated early, and are localized, have greatly improved survival compared to those that have spread.

Early localized oral and pharyngeal cancers often are not bothersome and therefore go undetected until the cancer has spread. About half of oral and oropharyngeal cancers have spread to the lymph nodes (spread to the neck) at the time of diagnosis or treatment. Three sites within the mouth are high-risk for the development of oral and oropharyngeal cancer: the floor of the mouth, the sides of the tongue, and the soft palate complex (soft palate, inside the retromolar trigone, and tonsil area).

Detection of an oral and oropharyngeal cancer also identifies an individual who is at high risk for developing or having a cancer of the respiratory system and upper digestive tract (larynx, lung, and esophagus).

Warning signs and symptoms of oral and oropharyngeal cancer:

A mouth sore that does not heal

A lump or thickened mass in mouth or neck

A red or white patch in mouth

A sore throat or feeling that something is caught

Voice change

Difficulty chewing or swallowing

Difficulty moving the jaw or tongue

Numbness

Swelling

Loosening of teeth

Weight loss

Pain may not be present with early oral and oropharyngeal lesions. Traumatic oral lesions will resolve or greatly improve after the cause of the trauma is removed (such as a sharp tooth or denture). A biopsy, to rule out or confirm a malignancy, is indicated if an oral lesion persists after two weeks. A dentist and/or physician should evaluate all suspicious lesions.